Licensing drivers a good idea

Re Your Nov. 23 editorial, "ISSUE: New York granting of driver licenses for undocumented workers": I believed granting driver licenses to undocumented workers was a great idea. Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico is doing this, and the rate of accidents and other associated problems have dropped.

In your editorial, you say states should not be involved in federal immigration matters and that New York would insert itself into federal immigration business by granting driver's licenses.

How wrong you are. The states have the right to license individuals, regardless of their status in the country. The bias against the undocumented is evident in your opinion. I recognize that we have a problem with immigration and the problem has to be addressed, but this is a separate issue, and a political one at that. I suppose you wouldn't take immediate action to protect yourself if you perceived yourself to be harmed or to safeguard your home if you thought someone else was responsible for your safety.

I hear the double spin. In one case, it is OK for municipalities by way of law enforcement to get involved in federal enforcement by turning undocumented immigrants over to federal authorities, stopped for whatever reason in the course of policing. I thought this was a more serious, dangerous policy, and a seed for racial profiling. This matter of fact deserves more of a public protest (especially here in South Florida, where you have more of a diverse community) than the issue of legalizing drivers by way of driver licenses, an action that would benefit every state.